Mounting for electric arc furnace electrodes



Oct. 9, 1945. w, PAYNE 2,386,260

MOUNTING FOR ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE ELECTRODES Filed Sept. 16, 1943Patented Oct. 9, 1945 MOUNTING FOR ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE ELECTRODESWilllam Harvey Payne, La Grange, 111.

Application September 16, 1943, Serial No. 502,650

11 Claims.

This invention is directed to the structure of the supporting arm whichcarries the electrode and particularly to the means provided forclamping the electrode and the fluid pressure mechanism for actuatingthe clamp. The invention also relates to the bus bar in its coactingrelationship to the members of the clamping group and to the generalarrangement of the apparatus as a whole. Further details will appearfrom the description of the invention in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing wherein- Fig. 1 is a plan view in half sectionpartially broken away; and

Fig. 2 is an elevation in vertical half section partially broken away.

The structure as a whole is carried by an elongated box-like supportingarm I rectangular in cross section and having side walls II, a top wall12 and a base wall I3. The walls at the forward end terminate in aflange l4, reenforced at the bottom by a rearwardly tapering base platel5. The flange provides a broad contact face for the attachment of ahead yoke ii of chambered construction comprising spaced inner and outerwalls I! and I8 and closed at top and bottom to provide an enclosure forthe circulation of water or other suitable coolant.

The head yoke is shaped to provide outwardly diverging shoulder portionsl8 terminating in "straight parallel armv sections 20 connected by anouter bridge section 2| extending at right angles to the arms, thusdefining a space of right angular formation at its outer corners and ofconvergent formation at its inner side which latter is underlaid by afloor plate 22 having a concave outer edge 23 which lies slightly abovethe plane of the base plate l5.

The inner ends of the head yoke are secured (preferably by welding) to aflange plate 24 which registers with the flange l4 and is securedthereto by bolts 25, thus providing a rugged support for the weight ofthe electrode 28 which extends vertically through the head yoke.

Above the supporting arm are located two pairs of copper bus bars 21(one pair being omitted in the figures) which are held in parallelspaced relation by forward and rear clamps 28 and 29, one of the bars ofeach pair at the rear end 30 being offset to contact the other and theends being provided with apertures 3| to provide connections for thecurrent cables. The forward portions of the two pairs or bus barsdiverge in substantial reg ter with the diverging shoulder portions of ehead yoke but on a higher level and theparallel ends 33 are broughttogether in register with the arm sections so that the space subtendedbetween the bus bars will align with the space subtended by theunderlying yoke.

The corner angles thus afforded by the yoke provide sockets for thereception of fixed contact blocks 34 of conductive material which arebeveled on their inner faces 34a to make tangent contact with the wallof the electrode. The blocks extend from the base of the head yoke tothe upper edge of the ends 33 of the bus bars and are secured to thelatter by screw bolts 35 and to the former by screw bolts 36.

The electrode is clamped against the contact blocks by the action of aclamping block 31, the acting face 38 of which is channeled to closelyembrace the cylindrical surface of the electrode on each side of acenter recess 39. The clamping block on its rear side is provided with atubular socket 40 having its upper wall extended to provide an ear 4|apertured to receive a pin 42 which somewhat loosely units the block tothe forward end of a tubular piston rod 43 whose opposite end is fittedaround a stem 43a extending axially from a piston. Through the pistonand stem is a small diameteraxial passageway 44a providing communicationbetween the interior of the tubular piston rod and the space beyond. thepiston.

The rear end of the frame is provided with a flange 44b which registerswith a flange 45 on a cylinder 46 provided on its head 41 with brackets48 which carry the clamp 29 for holding the bus bars in elevatedposition.

Air or other fluid under pressure is admitted through pipe 49 to a valvecasing 50 enclosing a plug 5| having channels 52 and 53 for a fourwayvalve. A pipe 54 wherein is interposed a normally closed solenoidoperated check valve 55 leads through the cylinder head to admitpressure behind the piston. Pipe 56 leads from the forward end of thecylinder back to the valve casing, and an exhaust pipe 5! standsopposite the admission pipe 49. With the valve plug turned to theposition shown in Fig. 2, fluid under pressure is admitted from the pipe49 through the groove 52, pipe 54, and check valve 55 to the head of thecylinder to advance the piston and force the separated ends of theclamping block flrmly against the inner side of the electrode andagainst the resistance of the two spaced contact blocks 34, thusaffording four lines of contact for clamping the electrode and providingfour contact areas for the flow of the current.

During this adjustment, fluid in advance of the.

piston is exhausted through pipe 58, groove. 53 and exhaust pipe 51,while the check valve 55 serves to block the escape of pressure from thecylinder even though the pressure in the supply line should be reduced.4

To release the electrode the valve plug is turned through 90 whichestablishes a pressure line from supply pipe 49 through channel 53 andpipe 58 to the cylinder at a point adjacent the forward side of thepiston, while opening an exhaust passageway through the pipe 54, valve55 (when actuated to open position), channel 52 and exhaust pipe 51.

The clamping block 31 is connected with the bus bars through a slightlyflexible, bowed, copper conductor bar 58, the rear end of which isbolted to the clamp 28 while the forward downturned end 59 is fastenedby screw bolts to the clamping block so that an unimpeded flow ofcurrent will be maintained both to the clamping block and-to the twocontact blocks. Forward and rear clamps 60 and BI serve to rigidlysecure the frame to a carrier plate 62 reinforced by ribs 63, whichcarrier plate is supported upon a vertically adjustable standard of anysuitable char* acter, which is not shown and which forms no part of thepresent invention. In order to provide the necessary insulation, micasheaths 64 may be interposed within-the clamps 29, 60 and GI, thesheaths within the clamp 29 being surrounded by shells 65 ofnon-magnetic material.

In operation, with pressure admitted behind the piston, the clampingblock will be advanced by a straight line, centrally directed thrust,and

being somewhat loosely connected to the thrust rod will seat itselffirmly and evenly against the inner side of the electrode, thus forcingthe same tightly against the laterally disposed forward contact blocks,so that the electrode will be firmly clamped in position and will be soheld until pressure is released from the piston and the clamping blockis retracted.

The heavy forward thrust of the clamping block is firmly resisted by thestructure of the frame and by the formation of the head yoke whichisadmirably adapted to resist such thrusts and at the same time affordthe necessaryv strength and rigidity to carry the weight of theelectrode at a point distant from the mounting for the arm, whileaffording extended socket mountings for the contact blocks and a supportfor the bus bar elements.

The arrangement of the bus bar and its bowed connection with theclamping block afford the necessary flexure to permit the slight degreeof movement required in setting and retracting the clamping block whilethe general structure of the apparatus is one which permits thecirculation of water or other coolant to counter-act the effects of thehigh degree of heat to which the structure is subjected. When the pistonis under pressure to clamp the electrode, the gaseous medium at the endof the cylinder is free to seep slowly through to the interior of thetubular piston rod to a point forwardly of the piston, thereby toincrease the storage capacity for air to operate the piston for themaximum length of time in case of external air failure.

I claim:

1. In combination with a furnace electrode, a mounting including anelongated supporting arm, carrying at its outer end a head yoke openthrough aseasco its interior to aflcrd passage for the electrode andhaving side portions outwardly offset from the arm and connected attheir forward ends by a cross bridge portion and affording spaced cornersockets, contact blocks securedwithin said sockets and positioned tobear against laterally sep-- arated areas on the'forward face of theelectrode, a cylinder located in the rear of the arm, a piston withinsaid cylinder, a piston rod extending forwardly therefrom through thearm, a clamping block engaged by the forward end of the piston rod andadapted to receive a direct forward thrust therefrom to clamp againstthe rear side of the electrode, means for controlling the flow of fluidpressure to the cylinder and means for supplying current to theelectrode.

2. In combination with a furnace electrode, a mounting including anelongated supporting arm, carrying at its outer end a head yoke openthrough its interior to aii'ord passage for the electrode and havingside portions outwardly offset from the arm and connected at theirforward ends by a cross bridge portion and affording spaced cornersockets, conductive contact blocks secured within said sockets andpositioned to bear against laterally separated areas on'the forward faceof the electrode, a cylinder located in the rear of the arm, a pistonwithin said cylinder, .8. piston rod extending forwardly therefromthrough the arm, a conductive clamping block engaged by the forward endof the piston rod and adapted to receive a direct forward thrusttherefrom to clamp against the rear side of the electrode, means forcontrolling the flow of fluid pressure to the cylinder and bus bar meanscarried by the arm and having members connected with the contact blocksand with the clamping block respectively. 1

3. In combination with a furnace electrode, a mounting including anelongated supporting arm, carrying at its outer end a head yoke openthrough its interior to afford passage for the electrode and having sideportions outwardly offset from the arm and connected at their forwardends by a cross bridge portion and affording spaced corner sockets,conductive contact blocks secured within said sockets and positioned tobear against laterally separated areas on the forward face of theelectrode, a cylinder located in the rear of the arm, a piston withinsaid cylinder, a piston rod extending forwardly therefrom through thearm, a conductive clamping block engaged clamp against the rear side ofthe electrode,

means for controlling the flow of fluid pressure to the cylinder and busbar means carried by the arm and providing members diverging at theirouter ends to make connection with the contact blocks and a centrallydisposed bowed flexible member connecting with the clamping block forsupplying current to the electrode.

, 4. In combination with a furnace electrode, a mounting including anelongated supporting arm, carrying at its outer end a head yoke openthrough its interior to afford passage for the electrode and having sideportions outwardly of!- set from the arm and connected at their forwardends by a cross bridge portion and affording spaced corner sockets,contact blocks secured within said sockets and positioned to bearagainst laterally separated areas on the forward face of the electrode,pressure the rear of the arm, a thrust member connected with saidpressure actuated means and extending actuated means located inforwardly therefrom through the arm, a clamping block engaged by theforward end of the thrust member and adapted to receive a direct forwardthrust therefrom to clamp against the rear side of the electrode, meansfor controlling the flow of fluid pressure to the pressure actuatedmeans and means for supplying current to the electrode.

5. In combination with a furnace electrode, a mounting including anelongated supporting arm, carrying at its outer end a head yoke openthrough its interior to afford passage for the electrode and having sideportions outwardly offset from the arm and connected at their forwardends by a cross bridge portion and affording spaced corner sockets,conductive contact blocks secured within said sockets and positioned tobear against laterally separated areas on the forward face of theelectrode, pressure actuated means located in the rear of the arm, athrust member connected with said pressure actuated means and extendingforwardly therefrom through the arm, a conductive clamping block engagedby the forward end of the thrust member and adapted to receive a directforward thrust therefrom to clamp against the rear side of theelectrode, means for controlling the flow of fluid pressure to thepressure actuated means and bus bar means carried by the arm and havingmembers connected with the contact blocks and with the clamping blockrespectively.

6. In combination with a furnace electrode, a mounting including anelongated supporting arm, carrying at its outer end a head yoke openthrough its interior to afford passage for the electrode and having sideportions outwardly offset from the arm and connected at their for- Wardends by a cross bridge portion and affording spaced corner sockets,conductive contact blocks secured within said sockets and positioned tobear against laterally separated areas on the forward face of theelectrode, pressure actuated means located in the rear of the arm, athrust member connected with said pressure actuated means and extendingforwardly therefrom through the arm, a conductive clamping block engagedby the forward end of the thrust member and adapted to receive a directforward thrust therefrom to clamp against the rear side of theelectrode, means for controlling the flow of fluid pressure to thepressure actuated means and bus bar means carried by the arm andproviding members diverging at their outer ends to make connection withthe contact blocks and a centrally disposed bowed flexible memberconnecting with the clamping block for supplying current to theelectrode.

'7. In combination with a furnace electrode, a mounting therefor,including an elongated supporting arm, a pair of laterally spacedcontact blocks adapted to bear against the forward face of the electrodeon opposite sides of the center of the face, socket means carried by thearm for socketing said contact blocks, a clamping block adapted to bearagainst the middle portion of the rear face of the electrode, pressureactuated means carried by the arm and including a member positioned toexert a direct forward thrust against the clamping block to clamp theelectrode between the clamping block and the contact blocks, means forcontrolling the flow of fluid pressure and means for supplying currentto the electrode.

8. 1n combination with a furnace electrode, a

mounting therefor, including an elongated supporting arm, a pair oflaterally spaced conductive contact blocks adapted to bear against theforward face of the electrode On opposite sides of the center of theface, socket means carried by the arm for socketing said contact blocks,a conductive clamping block adapted to bear against the middle portionof the rear face of the electrode, pressure actuated means carried bythe arm and including a member positioned to exert a direct forwardthrust against the clamping block to clamp the electrode between theclamping block and the contact blocks, means for controlling the flow offluid pressure and bus bar means carried by the arm and providinglaterally divergent members connected respectively with the contactblocks and a centrally disposed flexible member connected with theclamping block.

9. In combination with a furnace electrode, a mounting including anelongated supporting arm carrying at its outer end a head yoke openthrough its interior to afford passage for the electrode and having sideportions disposed outwardly of the arm and connected at their forwardends by a cross bridge, spaced means secured to the yoke adjacentopposite ends of the bridge and positioned to bear against laterallyseparated areas on the forward face of the electrode, a piston mechanismlocated to the rear of the arm and provided with a rod extendingforwardly parallel with the arm, a clamping block engaged by the forwardend of the rod adapted to receive therefrom a direct forward thrust toclamp against the rear side of the electrode, means for controlling theflow of fluid pressure to the piston mechanism, and means for supplyingcurrent to the electrode.

10. In combination with a furnace electrode, a mounting therefor,including an elongated supporting arm, conductive contact meanssupported from the arm adapted to bear against the forward face of theelectrode, a conductive clamping block adapted to bear against the rearsurface of the electrode, means carried by the arm and including a,member positioned to exert a direct forward thrust against the clampingblock to clamp the electrode between the clamping block and the forwardcontact means, means for imparting a forward thrust thereto, and bus barmeans carried by the arm and providing laterally divergent membersconnected respectively with the forward contact means and a flexibleconductor bar connected with the clamping block.

11. In combination with a furnace electrode, a mounting therefor,including an elongated supporting arm, conductive contact meanssupported from the arm adapted to bear against the forward face of theelectrode, a conductive clamping block adapted to bear against the rearsurface of the electrode, means carried by the arm and including amember positioned to exert a direct forward thrust against the clampingblock to clamp the electrode between the clamping block and theforwardcontact means, means for imparting a forward thrust thereto andbus bar means carried by the arm and providing laterally divergentmembers connected respectively with the forward contact means andacentrally disposed conductor bar connected at its rear end with the busbar and having its forward end downtumed and connected with the clampingblock.

WILLIAM HARVEY PAYNE.

